흥신소 A black operation (black ops) is a secret government or military activity that violates standard protocol and may even be against the law. These activities include illegal domestic surveillance, assassination plots and sabotage.
The CIA fights a shadowy war of high-profile assassinations and kick-down-the-door night raids in countries across the globe. Trevor Paglen is an artist and experimental geographer who seeks to make visible this secret world.
What is a Black Operation?
A Black Operation (Black op) is a covert operation by a government, a government agency or a military organization. It can also include activities by private groups or individuals. These operations are typically clandestine and often outside of standard military or intelligence protocol, or even against the law. Black ops also involve deception, either by concealing who is behind the operation or by making it appear that someone else did it.
The US spends around $30 billion each year on classified military programmes, ranging from spy satellites to ‘extraordinary rendition’. Trevor Paglen is an artist and experimental geographer who works to create visual representations of these secret worlds. He tells Oscar Reyes about some of the key concepts involved.
Paglen says the phrase ‘black ops’ is a term that has been largely coined by conspiracy theorists rather than by members of intelligence agencies themselves. But it has become a catchphrase that appeals to many people’s interest in ‘conspiracy theories’, and it suggests that such activities are not only real but have negative connotations. Indeed, it is now known that the CIA has undertaken a wide range of such operations, including eavesdropping on citizens and attempts to change the regime in Iran. It has also sabotaged Iranian nuclear equipment. Such activity has been referred to as ‘black ops’ by journalists and politicians.
Black Operations are Secret흥신소
As the name suggests, Black Operations are secret missions. They are not conducted by a single organization, but rather by multiple government agencies and military branches. These missions are usually approved by the president, and the participants are often highly trained soldiers or intelligence agents. These operations are designed to be as effective as possible, and they often involve unconventional tactics outside of the standard protocol.
For example, one of the most famous Black Ops in recent history involved a US Douglas A-26 C Invader painted in fake Cuban Air Force colors. This aircraft was used in a black operation to attack the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior. Another famous black operation was a US Navy SEAL operation in Afghanistan that resulted in the deaths of unknown numbers of Taliban members and civilians.
Typically, black ops are secret because they are carried out in unauthorized combat zones or regions that are too politically sensitive to intervene with conventional forces. This makes them hard to justify and report on, even for the most elite members of the armed services. In addition, the use of covert operations can lead to miscalculations and other mistakes that could jeopardize the safety or lives of other personnel.
For these reasons, the term “black ops” has become a common nickname for covert activities that have no formal description in official documents. The term has also been embraced by conspiracy theorists who enjoy the thrill of imagining clandestine and dangerous missions.
Black Operations are Terrorist Attacks
The term black operation, also known as a black op, refers to covert operations that are not attributable to the government or armed forces who carried them out. These operations are usually outside the scope of normal military/intelligence protocol and may even be illegal in some cases. They often involve deception to hide the involvement of the CIA or other entity involved in the operation. This could include not telling anyone who was responsible or blaming the attack on someone else (false flag operations).
In recent years, there have been several high-profile allegations of clandestine operations by the United States government. These have included the use of mercenaries and drone strikes, as well as secret prisons. There are also reports that the CIA has been training members of militant groups.
Whether these claims are true or not, there is no doubt that the CIA and other intelligence agencies conduct many “black operations.” These covert activities leave legible traces in our everyday landscapes and public data. Artist and experimental geographer Trevor Paglen is working to create visual representations of these secret worlds. He joins us to discuss how he does so.
Black Operations are a Game
CIA officers, like the Cuban refugee Ric Prado, fight a little-seen and virtually unknown war against those who would do the United States harm. Black Ops is the name of their clandestine operation that isn’t supposed to be known by anyone without a top secret clearance and additional special access, hence the “black” in “Black Ops”.
In addition to the main campaign character, players can control a Hind helicopter and guide friendly troops from an SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft during some missions. Using the heads-up display, players can see where their targets are on the map and what distance they are from them.
The game’s campaign takes place during the Cold War, with a particular focus on the era-defining Bay of Pigs invasion in Cuba. The climax involves an attempt to find a number station that broadcasts radio sequences to sleeper agents. The player uses the book Profiles in Courage, written by JFK, to decipher these sequences.
Black Ops was developed by Treyarch, which is also behind the Call of Duty franchise. The team worked on World at War and a tie-in video game for the James Bond film Quantum of Solace simultaneously before focusing on Black Ops in 2009. The game was released in November 2010. It includes 14 different multiplayer maps. In addition to Team Deathmatch and Capture the Flag, there are several objective-based missions that are played in a variety of locations.